Monthly Archives: December 2008

Winnipeggers fill up the Dome and the Excel Energy Centre. Drive home happy.

Posted on December 29, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

I was with thousands of Winnipeggers in the Xcel Energy Centre in St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday night and I had a chance to watch one of the best teams in the National Hockey League.

The Chicago Blackhawks, with captain Jonathan Toews of Winnipeg and all-stars Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Brian Campbell, just waxed the outclassed Minnesota Wild 4-1. Dustin Byfuglien from Roseau, via the Brandon Wheat Kings, had two goals and two assists while Toews had two assists as the Hawks dominated the Wild in every possible way to win their franchise-record ninth straight game. 

 

The Hawks are now 20-6-7 on the season and with talent at every position, they clearly have a shot at the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks in the West.

 

GM Dale Tallon deserves a lot of credit for building this winner.

 

Meanwhile, a Minnesota Wild executive told me on Sunday that he believed both the Phoenix Coyotes and the Nashville Predators are essentially bankrupt and are being carried by the league — that’s all of their expenses, including payroll. You’d have to think that at some point commissioner Gary Bettman is going to have to bury his pride and allow these teams to move to Canada where people actually care about hockey.

 

Meanwhile, as both D&J’s and All Season Tours dropped off thousands of ‘Peggers at the Dome yesterday afternoon, it became clear that folks around these parts are in love with the Vikings. Most of them sat right below me in the auxiliary press box and they all cheered loudly as Ryan Longwell hit the 50-yard field goal to win the game, the NFC North and a spot in the playoffs for the Vikes.

 

It’s also nice to see that after a tough few years, the Winnipeg sports tour companies had a good weekend. Maybe they’ll fare well for the Wild-Red Wings/Vikings-Eagles this coming Saturday and Sunday.

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Week 17 NFL Picks. The Final Sunday of the 2008 Season.

Posted on December 28, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

After a 7-9 week in Week 16, no sense worrying about it anymore. It has NOT been a very good year for this prognosticator. Hell, my daughter-in-law, whose old friends at Balmoral Hall School won’t believe it, kicked my sorry old butt in the family pool.  

However, while I’ve struggled, it has been a good year for the NFL. 

 

Six teams have already qualified for the NFL’s post-season, and as we approach “last-chance Sunday,” there is still almost a dozen teams with a chance.

  

Week 17 is packed with tremendous opportunities. Denver visits San Diego in the AFC West. It’s either the division title or nothing. Two games – Miami at the Jets and Dallas at Philadelphia – feature four teams with playoff hopes.

 

In the AFC East, three teams – Miami, New England and the Jets – are all in position to win the division while in the NFC North, if the Vikings beat the Giants, they win the division but if the Bears beat Houston and the Vikes lose, the Bears are in.

 

This is why the NFL is the best league in North American sport.

 

In the meantime, just to keep our 92-CITI-FM listeners in the loop, we’re in Minnesota this weekend for the Vikings-Giants season-ending war at the Dome and then the 92-CITI Sports Machine will be reporting live from the 2009 Super Bowl — the entire pre-game week and the game itself — in Tampa on Feb. 1.

 

In the meantime, let’s take a close look at Week 17…

 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

St. Louis Rams (2-13) at Atlanta Falcons (10-5)

Atlanta clinched a playoff berth with that big win in Minnesota last week. Don’t expect them to roll over today as Mike Smith makes a pitch for coach of the year and Matt Ryan puts the finishing touches on rookie of the year.

Take Atlanta

 

Oakland Raiders (4-11) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-6)

The Buccaneers still have a chance to make the playoffs. The Raiders don’t.

Take Tampa Bay

 

Cleveland Browns (4-11) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4)

Before Cleveland lost all its quarterbacks to injury, this might have been a good game, but Bruce Gradkowski isn’t suddenly going to cut it against the best defence in the NFL.

Take Pittsburgh

 

Carolina Panthers (11-4) at New Orleans Saints (8-7)

The Saints will finish the season at home in the Dome against an arch-rival that has already made the playoffs.

Take New Orleans

 

New York Giants (12-3) at Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

This is the first time Minnesota has had a chance to win a division title since 2000. The Giants won’t play their starters for four quarters.

Take Minnesota

 

Tennessee Titans (13-2) at Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

This is a statement game for the Colts — they’ve won eight straight, they’re at home and they’ll have to beat Tennessee to get to the Super Bowl. 

Take Indianapolis

 

Chicago Bears (9-6) at Houston Texans (7-8)

Chicago must win to have a shot at the playoffs. Houston’s players have to win for their jobs. The Texans are at the friendly confines of Reliant Stadium. 

Take Houston

 

Detroit Lions (0-15) at Green Bay Packers (5-10)

History cane be made today. The Lions can be the first team to ever finish an NFL season at 0-16. The Packers — 13-3 last year — can’t possibly fall to 5-11. Can they?

Take Green Bay

 

Kansas City Chiefs (2-13) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-11-1)

Does Herman Edwards get fired after a 2-14 season? If he doesn’t, he has pictures of the Hunt family with goats.

Take Cincinnati

 

New England Patriots (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-8)

The Patriots must win to have a chance. The Bills have learned to lose both on the road and at home.

Take New England

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-10) at Baltimore Ravens (10-5)

Baltimore has a shot at the playoffs and that Ravens defence deserves to be in the playoffs. 

Take Baltimore  

 

Seattle Seahawks (4-11) at Arizona Cardinals (8-7)

Even the Cardinals know a team shouldn’t win a division title at 8-8 — even though Denver or San Diego will

Take Arizona

 

Washington Redskins (9-6) at San Francisco 49ers (6-9)   

Our upset of the week.

Take San Francisco 

 

Miami Dolphins (10-5) at New York Jets (9-6) 

When the New York Jets traded for quarterback Brett Favre last summer and their anticipated starter Chad Pennington went to Miami, people wondered if the teams’ final regular-season game against each other would be important. Well, it’s not important, it’s critical. The Dolphins or Jets could be division champs…could make it as Wild Cards…or could be out of the playoffs completely.

Take the Jets

 

Dallas Cowboys (9-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) 

Could be the game of the week. The spotlight, however, will be on the quarterbacks. Can Donovan McNabb or Tony Romo win the big one?

Take Philadelphia

 

SUNDAY NIGHT 

Denver Broncos (8-7) at San Diego Chargers (7-8)

After the San Diego Chargers lost to the Denver Broncos 39-38 in Week 2: Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers said:  “We’ll get another shot at them later in the year. Hopefully, it’ll be for all the marbles.”  Well, guess what. It’s all or nothing. The winner captures the AFC West. The loser goes home. This time, Denver will confront a hot team. The Chargers have won three in a row after traveling cross-country last week to hand Tampa Bay its first home loss, 41-24, while Denver is coming off a 30-23 home loss to Buffalo. I like the Chargers’ chances. 

Take San Diego   

 

Last week: 7-9

 

Season: 141-98-1

 

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Winnipeg is desperate for a new rink.

Posted on December 27, 2008 by Scott Taylor| 3 Comments

In order to be accepted and then to be successful in the National Hockey League, the city of Winnipeg probably needs a new arena. MTS Centre is too small in so many ways and to get the league to ever  approve the move of a team from a major U.S. market to a tiny, prairie burg like Winnipeg, might take a bigger rink. 

However, when it comes to sports facilities, that’s not the biggest problem the city faces. 

 

The city of Winnipeg is absolutely desperate for a new 5,000-to-8,000-seat hockey arena.

 

When you consider that last year’s Manitoba Junior Hockey League final had to be played at the tired, cold, old and bleachered St. James Civic Centre; when you consider that our almost-defunct Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League franchise was forced to play all of its games on the road last season because there is no facility in Winnipeg; and when you consider that Winnipeg has entrepreneurs all set to acquire National Lacrosse League, NBA-Development League and Western Hockey League teams, but can’t because there is no available building in which to play, then  perhaps it’s time for our governments to bury that stupid non-compete agreement with the MTS Centre, grow some balls and build something the city really needs

 

“I’m convinced that with the right building, we would have an NBA-D League team and an Indoor Football League team, whether it’s AFL II or IFL or whatever, if we had a proper facility,” said Earl Barish, the former owner of the IBA’s Winnipeg Cyclone and a man who has been in constant contact with the NBA.

 

“Winnipeg could be an international hub of minor pro sports franchises, if – and it’s a big if – we had a place to play.”

 

Right now, if some intelligent – and courageous – entrepreneur were prepared to build, he or she could draw the following leagues to Winnipeg…

 

1. The National Lacrosse League has stated publicly, it wants to expand to Winnipeg.

 

2. Barish has a conditional NBA-Development League franchise if a proper building is ever constructed.

 

3. Indoor Football. Both Barish and Winnipeg Goldeyes owner Sam Katz have been in contact with a number of representatives from the Arena Football League 2 and the Indoor Football League over the years as have members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers board.

 

4. There are at least two ownership groups prepared to bring a Western Hockey League franchise to Winnipeg.

 

5. The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League’s Winnipeg Alliance would be playing here right now if there was a proper place to play.

 

6. The top native hockey tournaments, the big ones that draw dozens of teams and thousands of fans, could finally have a home in Winnipeg.

 

7. The Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the remaining national volleyball team, figure skating, curling and the city’s two universities could all use the building for major events.

 

If anyone had the vision and foresight to build this arena, they would be sports heroes in this province for the next 100 years.

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Is it time for the NHL to come back to Canada?

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Scott Taylor| 1 Comment

As the NHL breaks for Christmas, the talk is getting louder all over the league. Yesterday, as I did sports radio shows from coast to coast in Canada and the United States, the one question that started every conversation was this: “Is Winnipeg ready to get back into the NHL? (check out fan960.com)”

In a number of markets in the league, it’s a complete mess. There was a report in the New York Post Monday morning that the league may already have paid a payroll in both Phoenix and Tampa. ESPN has reported that the Coyotes could lose as much as $40 million this year. The Islanders are bleeding money. Nashville, Florida and Atlanta are virtually giving their tickets away.

 

The New York Post’s Larry Brooks offered up this little tidbit last week…

 

Brooks wrote: “Sorry, but does anyone really believe the NHL isn’t going to be required to provide funds to the Coyotes and/or Lightning so that neither team misses payroll this season, and is anyone certain that it hasn’t happened already?

 

“I know that Bettman told the Board of Governors two weeks ago not to expect a decrease in next season’s salary cap, but I’m betting the 2009-10 cap is no higher than $54 million and could be as low as $52 million. Remember, this season’s $56.7 million cap was based on a projected five-percent increase in league revenues.”

The downturn in the economy is causing real problems in the United States’ newest and most non-traditional hockey markets, but it’s also starting to affect teams in the Northeast. 

 

Amazingly, folks around the league are now legitimately starting to wonder if Winnipeg is in the NHL’s future. 

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Quit cheerleading you cretins!!!!

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

Coverage of NFL football on CBS hit rock bottom at 3:10 CST on Sunday during the Minnesota-Atlanta game when the announcing team of Dick Stockton, Brian Baldinger and Brian Billick actually changed out of their suits and put on Atlanta Falcons cheerleading skirts. 

Granted, I usually watch the NFL with the mute button on. Most play-by-play announcers are blind and most colour commentators just talk for the sake of talking. After awhile, the whole thing just gets annoying and it’s so much more peaceful and sane with no announcers. 

 

But on Sunday, I made the huge mistake of actually listening to Stockton, Baldinger (yap, yap, yap) and Billick. It would have been more comfortable sticking hot pokers in my ears.

 

Here’s what drove me nuts…

 

1) The three of them were more interested in the crowd noise than the play on the field.

 

2) Until the third replay, Stockton tried to maintain that Visanthe Shiancoe’s reach for the end zone was a fumble. 

 

3) Finally, the outright cheerleading for the Falcons reached such a crescendo that it was time to hit the mute button.

 

Why can’t these guys just call the game? They make millions and not one of them could call his dog, let alone a football game…. mute!

 

… 

 

Oh my gawd! I just turned the volume back up and Baldinger is talking about the crowd again. Brian, buddy, the drunk in the fourth row at the Metrodome can’t run for a first down. The crowd has nothing to do with anything. You’re an idiot!!!!

 

Sorry. I promise I will mute the TV for the remainder of my football day.

 

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Three more things to think about: Murray, Holyfield, Romo.

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

Three more things banging around in my cranium…

1) The Ottawa Citizen is reporting that Bryan Murray is frustrated with the way the Senators are playing and he wants to shake up the team. Hey, Bryan, thanks for catching up.

 

Let’s cut the bullshit. It was Murray who created this 12-14-5 mess. It was Murray who took a Stanley Cup contender built by John Muckler and turned it into a big time loser. It was Bryan Murray who fired John Paddock, replaced him with Craig Hartsburg and made a first-place team in the East, a 12th place team in the East.

 

Maybe the shakeup in Ottawa should start with Bryan Murray. It was  former Ottawa GM John Muckler who told me in Tampa this season, “Bryan Murray can’t coach talent.” Bryan Murray can’t manage it either.

 

2) Ever seen a fixed fight before? You probably did on Saturday if you watched the Evander Holyfield-Nikolai Valuev heavyweight championship fight in Zurich on TSN2.

 

Valuev barely landed a punch and was awarded the fight 114-114, 116-112 and 115-114. Valuev couldn’t have hurt me with the wussy punches he threw and he certainly didn’t hurt the much smaller, and older, Holyfield, who danced all over the ring and was barely touched. Granted, neither fighter was worth his weight in dog-shit, but let’s not lie to people (as the Associated Press report did on Saturday), Holyfield kicked the crap out of the big Russian.

 

The TSN2 announcers called it one of the worst fights in history. That was definitely true. Valuev barely landed a punch and made the 46-year-old Holyfield look like a 20-year-old, as he danced around the ring. In fact, both announcers called it 117-112 Holyfield.

However, the judges gave it to Valuev. And I get that. It was fixed, but it was fixed for a reason. They gave it to the champion because even though the challenger was the better fighter, he didn’t do enough to take the belt away. 

I’ve always maintained, unless you knock the champion down a couple of time, you don’t get his belt in a decision. 

Unless you fight a Winnipeg guy in Winnipeg. Then you can just steal a belt. Remember that WBA Championship of the Americas fight. Dome guy from Colombia rolls into Winnipeg, fights Winnipeg’s Larry Sharpe to a draw and gets to take home Sharpe’s belt because Winnipeg judges are so afraid that they might look like homers. They aren’t afraid to look like idiotic assholes, but they sure don’t want to be homers.

Boxing has long been weird, but no wonder MMA is stealing its thunder. It’s hard to watch boxing when you and everybody else in the building know who won the fight, but the judges go the other way because (a) they’ve been told to go the other way or (b) they’ve been paid to go the other way.

However, judges are so unpredictable, boxing is starting to look as phoney as figure skating because either Valuev-Holyfield was botched or Sharpe-and the Colombian guy was botched. Or fixed???

3) On Thursday, one of Fox Sports Radio’s NFL handicappers suggested that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had never proven to anyone that he could win a big game.

“Never done it in the regular season, never done it in the playoffs,” said our fearless prognosticator. “That’s why I believe Baltimore wins by a touchdown.”

Wow, was that guy ever right. 

Now, in fairness, the Dallas defence was dreadful in a 33-24 home loss to Baltimore on Saturday night, but two interceptions and too many red zone stalls made Romo look less than effective.

Dallas might not make the playoffs. It could be very easy to blame head coach Wade Phillips, but Tony Romo might not be as good as the NFL media wants us to believe.

And once again, it takes a professional gambler to figure it out.

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Asper says. “I haven’t got a clue,” when asked about Stadium future.

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Scott Taylor| 1 Comment

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer says a deal for a new football stadium in Winnipeg could be completed in January. Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz has signed off on the project. And now Manitoba’s federal conservative lieutenant Vic Toews, says, “the discussions are moving forward positively.”

 

That’s all great news, but for the most part, it’s still news to Winnipeg businessman, David Asper, the man behind the deal. He says he “doesn’t have a clue,” what’s going to happen.

 

Almost two years ago, Asper presented a plan to build a brand new football stadium in his home town, take over proprietorship of the community-owned Winnipeg Blue Bombers and, in theory, rescue the financially fragile franchise.

 

Over a period of about 23 months, Asper’s original idea has morphed into a 35,000-40,000-seat state of the art football complex at the University of Manitoba. It will service both the U of M and the Winnipeg Football Club as well as Manitoba’s amateur athletic community. The training rooms will be available to the public, a bubble will be built inside the facility for winter practices and amateur groups will be invited to use the building at a nominal fee.

 

As well, Asper will build “a commercial hub” (OK, a mall) at the current site of the stadium in the middle of an already huge commercial district. All profits from the “mall” will be directed toward both the Blue Bombers and an amateur football component that Asper envisions as one day making Manitoba, “the Texas of the North.”

 

The cost will be somewhere around $135 million, of which Asper is asking the province and feds to kick in $35 million — $20 million from Manitoba and another $15 million from Ottawa.

 

It’s a sensible arrangement that assists the U of M, grassroots amateur sport, Olympic-level sport, the local football side and even, in a sense, the Canadian Football League – a popular national sports loop playing most of its games in aging, run-down stadiums.

 

However, on the day Mike Kelly, the 27th head coach in Blue Bombers’ history was re-introduced to the local media, Asper still wondered what was going to happen to his stadium dream. After all, for nearly two years, Asper has been negotiating the funding of the project with Toews. Now, with parliament on hiatus and, perhaps, a new Liberal/NDP/Bloc Troika about to take control of the country, Asper’s dream might be in for a financial wakeup call.

 

“It’s frustrating because we’ve come so far,” Asper said. “Mr. Toews publicly supported our project as did most other Manitoba Conservatives. We’re ready, but what’s going on in Ottawa could delay the project, I just don’t have a clue. You have to admit, the world has changed dramatically since we came up with the first proposal (way back in January of 2007).”

 

By the time Asper’s brilliant idea celebrates its second birthday next month, the man behind a new stadium in Winnipeg could be negotiating with a whole new crew. And that whole new crew will have very little representation from Western Canada. As a result, it might not feel obligated to talk about stadium funding with a group from PC-heavy Manitoba.

 

“I don’t really know what will happen either, but I suspect that at best, it will cause a delay,” said Ken Hildahl, the current president of the Winnipeg Football Club. “David has been negotiating with Vic (Toews) for nearly two years and my sense is that the negotiations have gone well. We certainly have a provincial commitment so maybe with an NDP provincial government, the new coalition in Ottawa won’t make any difference, but, really, who knows?”

 

The Bombers current stadium will be 55-years-old this summer and it not only looks old, it feels older. And yet, thanks to the upheaval in Ottawa, the old dump could still celebrate a few more birthdays.

 

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Week 16 NFL Picks. Finally opening up a gap.

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

After an 11-5 week, we’ve finally opened up a gap between winners and losers. Sure took long enough. Of course, the same could be said for Winnipeg’s wonderful mayor, Sam Katz. Katz who calls to discuss NFL picks on a regular basis, dismissed two of my picks (he took Houston to beat Tennessee and Seattle to beat St. Louis) and went 13-3 last week to tie Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown at the top of their pool. Congrats to the Mayor.

 

Meanwhile, this is another huge week, just two weeks from the end of the 2008 regular season. So far, the Giants, 8-6 Arizona, Tennessee and Pittsburgh have wrapped up playoff berths. That leaves eight spots open. This weekend, Carolina can clinch the NFC South title with a win over the Giants, Minnesota will clinch the NFC North title with a win over Atlanta, Tampa, Dallas and Atlanta can also clinch playoff berths under the right circumstances. In the AFC, Denver wins the AFC West with a win on Sunday and Indianapolis will clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight over Jacksonville.

 

In the meantime, just to keep our 92-CITI-FM listeners in the loop, we’ll be off to Minnesota for the Vikings-Giants season-ending war at the Dome on Dec. 28 and then the 92-CITI Sports Machine will be reporting live from the 2009 Super Bowl game in Tampa on Feb. 1.

 

In the meantime, let’s take a close look at Week 16…

 

THURSDAY NIGHT

Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Indy has won seven straight and this will make it eight. The Colts lock up a playoff berth and perhaps make the statement that they are indeed the best team in the AFC.

Take Indianapolis 

 

SATURDAY NIGHT

Baltimore Ravens (9-5) at Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

The media believes the Cowboys are coming apart at the seams. Of course, those donkeys believed that last week before the ‘Boys whipped the Giants 20-9 on Sunday night.

Take Dallas

 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) at Cleveland Browns (4-10)

Both teams are horrible, but the Browns are at home.

Take Cleveland

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) at Tennessee Titans (12-2)

Could be one of the great battles of the season. That is if these two playoff-bound teams actually play any starters.

Take Tennessee

 

San Francisco 49ers (5-9) at St. Louis Rams (2-12)

Mike Singletary gets a bad 49ers outfit its sixth win of the season.

Take San Francisco 

 

San Diego Chargers (6-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)

This is a must-win for both teams, but the Bucs have Jon Gruden while the Bolts have Norv Turner. No contest.

Take Tampa Bay

 

New Orleans Saints (7-7) at Detroit Lions (0-14)

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha….

Take New Orleans 

 

Miami Dolphins (9-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

There is just something about the Dolphins outfit that finds ways to win — even on the road.

Take Miami

 

Arizona Cardinals (8-6) at New England Patriots (9-5)

It’s interesting that people are still talking about Kurt Warner as an MVP. Granted, he did win the wonky NFC West. Sadly, the Children of the Poor might have pulled that off against San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis.

Take New England

 

Buffalo Bills (6-8) at Denver Broncos (8-6)

The Broncos wrap up a playoff berth with a win. They’ll win.

Take Denver

 

New York Jets (9-5) at Seattle Seahawks (3-11)

This is an interesting game. Pro Bowler (again) Brett Favre, can put an exclamation point on the Jets turnaround. New York was 4-12 last year and can go to 10-5 this week with a victory in Seattle. Why don’t we hear about the brilliance of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, the Green Bay brain trust that let Favre leave for New York.

Take the Jets  

 

Houston Texans (7-7) at Oakland Raiders (3-11)

May the best team win. That team would be Houston.

Take Houston

 

Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5)   

If the Vikings can shut down Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, they’ll win by four touchdowns. Of course, that assignment isn’t necessarily easy.

Take Minnesota 

 

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) at Washington Redskins (8-6) 

Philly still has a life, even if Dallas wins.  

Take Philadelphia

 

SUNDAY NIGHT

Carolina Panthers (11-3) at New York Giants (11-3) 

Carolina has to win to clinch the NFC South. The Giants, without Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs have been mailing it in for the last two weeks. 

Take Carolina

 

MONDAY NIGHT 

Green Bay Packers (5-9) at Chicago Bears (8-6)

Why doesn’t anyone talk about the brilliant Ted Thompson and the genius Mike McCarthy and their wonderful decision to run Brett Favre out of town this past summer? Five weeks ago, they’d made the right decision and, heck, Aaron Rodgers was obviously the second coming of Johnny freakin’ Unitas. Not so much anymore. Still, the big-time U.S. media has let the tall foreheads in Green Bay off the hook. Those big shooters will rip the players, but they sure don’t like to rip the brass.

Take Chicago   

 

Last week: 11-5

 

Season: 134-89-1

 

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Random thoughts: Three things on my mind after a day of football and a week of hockey.

Posted on December 14, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

Just some random activity in my grey matter…

No. 1…

 

As the Boston Bruins remain among the Top 3 teams in the National Hockey League, it’s been fun to watch the brilliant play of 33-year-old Shane Hnidy of Neepawa, Mb.

 

Here’s a guy who has bounced around the NHL for about eight seasons. He made it to the big time after toiling in the East Coast League and the American League. He’s been in Detroit (although he never actually played in Detroit), Ottawa, Nashville, Atlanta, Anaheim and Boston and now, he’s finally found a home — on the Bruins defence. 

 

And now that he’s averaging 20 minutes a game on a terrific team, it’s a good home, too.

 

No. 2…

 

Sean Avery is no longer a member of the Dallas Stars. The tough guy with the crazy mouth who made disparaging public comments about two ex-girlfriends has been dumped by Dallas.

 

Most hockey fans figured it was coming, but there is something just a tad disturbing about it. 

 

Frankly, it makes Dallas GM Brett Hull look really bad. In fact, it makes you wonder if Hull and the people around him have paid any attention to anything at all. Did they not know what they were getting when they signed Avery?

 

And No. 3…

 

I wonder how these big time mainstream media folks in Winnipeg, the one or two who clearly suggested the Minnesota Vikings were on the right track — and a better team — when Gus Frerotte took over as the team’s quarterback, feel about their ridiculous statements today?

 

Yesterday in Glendale, Arizona, Tarvaris Jackson pitched an almost perfect game for the Vikes – 11-for-17 for 163 yards four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 135.5 passer’s rating. He also turned and handed the ball to Adrian Peterson enough times so that Peterson could run for 165 yards on 28 carries.

 

That’s how the Vikings win (they won 35-14 in Arizona yesterday)  and that’s why T-Jack is the Vikings one and only quarterback. At least he’s the one and only quarterback if the Vikings expect to win in the post-season.

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Pacquiao destroys de la Hoya. Winnipeg celebrates the victory.

Posted on December 12, 2008 by Scott Taylor| Leave a comment

Last Saturday night, I had the opportunity to attend the Oscar de la Hoya-Manny Pacquiao “Dream Fight” at Winnipeg’s McPhillips Street Station Casino. Frankly, it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I’ve had in quite some time.

 

Not only was the new back-projector screen in the concert bowl at the Casino sensational — best picture on any large screen in Winnipeg — but the crowd itself was an eye-opener.

 

It was estimated by Casino staff that as many as 1,400 members of Winnipeg’s Filipino community attended the fight, lining up early to get their free seat passes in the second floor bar and in the Concert Bowl.

 

From 7 p.m. (when I arrived) until the fight started at about 11:05, the crowd was quiet. No one spoke loudly or got drunk, no one was belligerent with staff, no one dared make a boastful prediction or cheer de la Hoya.

 

However, when Filipino singer Karylle sang the country’s national anthem, the crowd came to life and from that point on, the atmosphere was electric. These people cheered every punch Pacquiao landed and rose to their feet when de la Hoya refused to come out for the ninth round. It was a sensational performance by a brilliant fighter and these folks expected nothing less.

 

Pacquiao is no longer just a Filipino star, but an international icon and in Winnipeg last Saturday night, he belonged to each and every one of the 1,400 folks at McPhillips Street Station Casino.

 

Since the fight, we’ve learned two things: No. 1, he’s probably going give away a large chunk of his winnings to the poor in the Phillipines and No. 2, that the event didn’t reach the financial success of de la Hoya’s loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. At least, not yet.

 

The promoters’ goal was 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, but HBO announced Wednesday that the fight drew 1.25 million pay-per-view buys and $70 million in revenue. The live gate for the fight at Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena (15,001) was better than $17 million. Promoters were hoping for $100 million in PPV and $15 million at the gate.

 

However, despite the doom and gloom, Pacquiao’s brilliant victory over the aging (and, I’m afraid, washed up), de la Hoya is still the third bestselling non-heavyweight pay-per-view bout in history.

 

According to HBO, only de la Hoya-Mayweather (2.4 million pay-per-view buys) and de la Hoya-Felix Trinidad (1.4 million in 1999) topped Saturday’s bout among non-heavyweight fights and only one other de la Hoya fight (versus Bernard Hopkins in 2004) met or exceeded 1 million buys.

 

In fact, break even was 650,000 buys and according to promoter Bob Arum, “when every number is counted, the fight could go well north of 1.5 million.”

 

De la Hoya has long been the draw, but now the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world can probably do it on his own. And with a title fight in 2009 against the British sensation, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, there is a legitimate chance that Pacquiao could become the greatest boxing draw of all-time.

 

And of course, that’s something the people at McPhillips Street Station Casino last Saturday, could have told us a long time ago.

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